Abused 4-year-old Valley girl dies

By KTAR Newsroom | June 1, 2012 at 9:50 amUPDATED: June 4, 2012 at 10:34 pm

PHOENIX — A 4-year-old Phoenix girl who was in the hospital after being beaten by her mother, has died.

Toryn Buckman died from injuries suffered Wednesday at the hands of her mother, Ashley Buckman, 22. Buckman was charged on multiple counts of child abuse and her live-in boyfriend James Edwards was charged with failure to protect a child or render aid.

The case will now be classified as a homicide, said Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson.

According to police, the little girl showed signs of previous of abuse, including bruises to her head and body and markings from scaldings.

Her mother admitted to having hit the child for soiling bed sheets on May 29.

The couple, who live in an apartment near Northern and 19th avenues, has a year-old child. The infant has been taken into custody by Child Protective Services.